Demand for AI is sky high—and the data centers that power it come with many possible environmental and health problems. The enormous systems needed to power AI require a tremendous amount of electricity. Currently, much of this electricity is coming from fossil fuels, which generates massive amounts of climate and air pollution. In fact, two-thirds of the additional power needed for AI data centers is expected to come from fossil fuels. AI operations also require large quantities of water to cool the equipment, and they cover a lot of land.

Air pollution associated with AI is expected to result in as many as 1,300 premature deaths per year by 2030. The weakly regulated gas combustion turbines and diesel generators being used to boost power beyond maxed out local electric grids and avoid outages at AI data centers emit hazardous chemicals, including the known carcinogens benzene and formaldehyde, and worsen ground-level ozone. Particulate matter from these power sources can increase the risk of heart attacks, respiratory infections, asthma attacks, or death.

Communities living closest to AI data centers are most impacted by the air pollution they create. Data centers are frequently located in neighborhoods already burdened by pollution. South Memphis’ Boxtown community, for example, where Elon Musk opened an AI supercomputer facility to power his startup xAI, was already home to an oil refinery, a steel mill, and chemical plants. The neighborhood’s majority-Black residents have high rates of asthma, lower life expectancy, and four times the national rate of cancer—health impacts that have all been linked to industrial pollution.

Moms Clean Air Force’s work on AI data centers is a natural extension of our 15 years of work on air and climate pollution. Plus, many of these facilities are in our neighborhoods and impacting our own families’ health. In Tennessee, we’re speaking out for more transparency around Elon Musk’s Colossus facility, which was built out practically overnight with no community input. In Virginia, which has the highest concentration of data centers in the world, we’re calling for stronger pollution protections and better oversight as hundreds of new projects strain the electric grid. In states from North Carolina to California, we’re making sure clean energy and public health are part of the conversation as new AI data centers are proposed—and we’re working to ensure the costs of powering these facilities are the responsibility of Big Tech, not our families. Find out how you can support better regulation of data centers in your state.